William p



(No Model.)

W. P. PREWITT.

I RAILWAY UAR.

No. 252,355. Patented Jan. 24,1882.

\H/- I w a? bar-W5 UNITED STATEs- WILLIAM P. PREWITT, OF ELKTON,

KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR To HIMSELF AND CALEB W. BELL, OF SAME PLACE;

RAILWAY-CAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 252,855, dated January24, 1882.

Application filed December 7, 1851.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, W1LLIAM P. PREWITT, of Elkton, in the coun tyof Toddand State of Kentueky, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Railroad-(Jars; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description ther'eof, reference being had to theaccompanyingdrawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,which form part of this specification, in which Figure l is a plan view,and Fig. 2 a side elevation, part in section.

The frequency with which brakemen upon the top of freight-trains fallbetween the cars and become either seriously injured orinstantly killedhas become a well-grounded cause of complaint.

The object of my invention is to provide a safe and simple means wherebysuch disasters may be entirelyobviatcd, and one,withal, which will be anadvantage to the cars, as it will assist in lessening the concussion ofone against the other, which is more or less the case in stopping.

I Vith these ends in view my invention con sists in having two or morerods projecting through or from the end ot'each car, and around whichare suitable spiral springs, said springs being connected by wire,rope,or other appropriate material, all as will be hereinafter morefully set forth.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I willnow proceed to describe the manner in which I prefer to carry it intoeffect. 7

A A represent two freight-cars, and B B two rods of sufficient size toadapt them to the purpose for which they are intended. These rods areheaded upon their outer end, and pass through the end of a car, on eachside, a foot (more or less) below its top, as shown in the drawings. I

O O are supports or guides attached to the inner side of the car for therods 13 B to slide in and retain them in proper position. Bctween theouter end of the car and the heads on the rods are the spiral springs bI). These (No model.)

and sustain him until he can recover his footing.

0 represents achain with small links, through which the wires a a passat their centers. This chain is secured on the inner side of the car,and serves to prevent the wires or ropes getting too widely separated.

The rods B B are also provided at their inner ends with means to preventthem from being drawn out, as seen at 9, Fig. 2.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with a railroad-car, of two sliding or retractingsupports surrounded by spiral springs, to which are securedcrosssupports, thus adapting said supports to close up or open out,substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The combination, with .a railroad-car, of the rods B B, surrounded byspiral springs b b, and rods or connections a a, all substantially asand for the purpose set Iorth.

3. The combination, with a railroad-car, of rods B B, springs b 1),connections a a, and chain c, all arranged to operate substantially 8 asand for the purpose set forth. D

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as myown I affix my signature inpresence ot'two witnesses.

, WM. P. PREWIIT. IVitncsses J. W. HOPPER,

O. VANPELT.

